Marker die



Feb. 3, 1942. 'r. J. BUCKEY 2,271,540

MARKER DIE Filed April 14, 1941- FIG. I.

H15 A T TORNE Y5 Patented Feb. 3, 1942 ".UN'I-TED STATES FATE QFFICE MARKER DIE ThaddeusJ. Buckey, St. Louis, Mo. Application April 14, 1941, Serial N0. 388,391

(CL. 16L-19) 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to marking machines of the character employed in the manufacture of shoes, where it is desired to form .an ink line to be subsequently followed by stitching, cut outs, or applique. v

Heretofore several varieties of marking machines have been known in the art, all of which involve a platen, a source of ink, a head movable back and forth between the platen and the source of ink, and an arrangement for removably receiving die plates on the head. A variety of mechanical arrangements have been provided for connecting the die plate with the head; for example, the patent to Altvater, No. 1,751,467; the patent to Freeman, No. 1,969,505; and the patent to Lindholm, No. 2,046,639, each of which are directed to machines of the character contemplated by this invention, show various mechanical organizations which have been employed for connecting the die plate with the head.

When a machine is constructed with one particular means of receiving and connecting the die plate, it is apparent that that machine is adapted to receive only die plates which are made particularly for it. This results in inconvenience to manufacturers who may have more than one type of machine, in that the die plates are not interchangeable; and in the case of manufacturers who have only one type of machine in the limitation upon their sources of supply for die plates.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide an accessory for marking machines of the character referred to, whereby to render any machine substantially universal insofar as its ability to receive die plates is concerned.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, part being shown in section, of the head of a marking machine of the character disclosed in the Altvater Patent No. 1,834,919, provided with the accessory and die plate of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the die plate for employment in connection with the accessory of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, generally stated, a marking machine of any character, regardless of the particular type of mechanical organization provided for the connection of die plates, may be provided with an adaptor having connecting parts arranged for complementary engagement with the standard parts in the head of that particular machine. Such an adaptor is therefore fitted upon the head of the machine in thesame manner as that in which it has heretofore been customary to. apply and connect the replaceable die plates. The adaptor itself may be provided with any suitable simple arrangement for removably receiving a die plate, which is wholly devoid of special connecting parts. In other words, the die plate may be and preferably is a flat plate of metal, having one surface thereof provided with the operative edges of the die, while the other side is wholly free of parts for interlocking or complementary engagement with the head proper. In

the embodiment shown in the drawing, opposite edges of the adaptor plate are formed as channels inwardly directechso as to slidably receive the edges of a flat top die plate. Suitable'means for locating the die plate in proper position upon the adaptor may also'be provided.

Referring now to the drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the head I of a conventional marking machine is mounted for rocking movement upon links 2, in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art; forexample, as illustrated in the Altvater Patent No. 1,834,919. The head I is in this instance provided with a pair of holes 3, 4, for the reception of pins, and is further provided with a recess 5 in which is located a locking member 6, connected through a rod 1 to ahandle 8. The locking member 6 is not circular, but is oblong, so that when the handle 8 is turned in one position the locking member 6 may free itself of opposing projections which it engages while in another position. As shown in the drawing, the locking member 6 engages beneath opposing projections.

Mounted upon the head I isan adaptor consisting of a 'plate 9 having upstanding pins Iii and II, for complementary engagement with holes 3 and 4 in the head. Centrally of the plate 9 a pair of angularly extending projections l2 and I3 are arranged so as to cooperate with looking member 6 in recess 5 of the head I.

The adaptor plate 9 is provided with means for slidably receiving the die plate M, such means, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, consisting of channels l5'and l6 arranged at opposite extremities of the adaptor plate 9 and being directed toward each other,

so as to receive therein the edge portions of die of projections or other parts adapted for coopera-tion, interlocking, or complementary engagement with the head proper. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the upper surface of plate I4 is, however, provided with a dimple l8,

arranged to receive a detent,rnember 19 which is suitably mounted, as in a case 20, on adaptor plate 9, and provided with a spring 2| for biasing it downwardly, as seen in Figure 2. With such an arrangement, the spring detent l9 cooperating with dimple l8 provides a means for locating the die plate with respect to the adaptor, and impositively holding the die plate in properly located position. With such an arrangement, when the operator has inserted a die plate into position in the adaptor, the spring detent l9 will fit in dimple IS with an audible click, and the operator will be advised also of the proper location of the die plate by reason of the additional effort which is required to move the die plate once the detent I9 is seated in the dimple 18. Obviously any other suitable means for 10- cating or locating and holding the die plate in proper position on the adaptor may be provided. For example, an abutment may be provided on the adaptor plate 9 for seating against the rear edge of die plate l4, and any suitable latch may be provided for preventing accidental movement of the die plate forwardly away from the abutment.

In employing the arrangement shown in the drawing for slidably mounting the die plate on the adaptor, it is important that the portions of channels l and I6 which overhang the extremities of die plate M be arranged so as either to fall beyond the margins of the platen which receives the work to be operated upon, or that the overhanging portions of the channels be made thinner (in a vertical direction, as seen in Figure 1) than the actual thickness of the marking element ll, for otherwise the overhanging portions of the channels l5 and It may engage the surface of the platen and prevent a firm impression by the marker element.

In order to facilitate manipulation of the die plate, and particularly the removal thereof from located position in the adaptor, the die plate may be provided with a tab 22 or any other suitable and convenient means for enabling an operator to grip it and exert the force necessary chine, and consequently that the invention is not limited to the particular form of connection shown.

It is obvious that many modifications will present themselves to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of this invention, and it is therefore to be distinctly understood that such modifications and adaptations, although not specifically described herein, are contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. The combination with a marking machine of the character described having a head provided with a connector part, of an adaptor having a connecting part complementary with the connector part on said head and arranged to removably receive a die plate.

2. The combination with a marking machine of the character described, having ahead provided with a connector part; of an adaptor having a' connecting part complementary with the connector part on said head, said adaptorhav ing a slideway for receiving the edges of a die plate.

3. The combination with a marking machine of the character described, having a head provided with a connector part, of an adaptor having a connecting part complementary with the connector part on said head, said adaptor having means for engaging the margin of a flat top die plate.

4. The combination with a marking machine of the character described having ahead provided with a connector part, of an adaptor having a connecting part complementary with the connector part on said head and arranged'to removably receive a die plate, and means for locating the die plate on the adaptor.

5. The combination with a marking machine of the character described having a head provided with a connector part, of an adaptor having a connecting part complementary with the connector part on said head and arranged to removto withdraw it from its located position in the adaptor.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the present invention accompiishes its objects, and enables the shoe manufacturer who is equipped with any of the various types of marking machines, by the provision of an adaptor of the character herein described, to render the machine of universal adaptation for employment with die plates of various manufactures. For example, a manufacturer who is pro vided with two different types of machines may, by the provision of an adaptor designed for each, render a complete stock of die plates usable interchangeably upon the various machines, by removing from the die plates all manner of parts for interlocking or complementary engagement with the head of any particular machine.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that a full disclosure of one embodiment of the invention has been made; but it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement of parts shown and described. For example, while the head of the marking machine shown in Figure 1 is of the type represented by Altvater Patent No. 1,834,919, it is to be distinctly understood that the adaptor may be provided with the complementary engaging and connecting parts prescribed for any other conventional type of maably receive a die plate, and means forimpositively holding a die plate in proper position on the adaptor.

6. The combination with a marking machine of the character described having a head provided with a connector part, of an adaptor having a connecting part complementary with the connector part on said head, said adaptor having oppositely directed channels arranged to removably receive the opposite edges of a die plate, means for locating the die plate with reference to the adaptor, and a part on the die plate readily accessible for gripping when the die plate is in located position on the adaptor.

7. An adaptor for use in connection with a marking machine having connecting parts,

comprising, a plate, members projecting upwardly from said plate for complemental engagement with the connecting parts of the'marking machine, and a slideway at each end of said plate arranged to removably receive a die plate.

8. An adaptor for use in connection with a marking machine having connecting parts, comprising, a plate, members projecting upwardly from said plate for complemental'engagement with the connecting parts of the marking machine, a slideway at each end of said plate arranged to removably receive a die plate, and means on said plate for locating a die plate with reference thereto.

THADDEUS J. BUCKEY. 

